NASM 2023 Updated Study Guide
How to use this guide:
The best way to use this guide is to first glance over pages 1-9 to familiarize
yourself with the overall scope of what you are trying to learn. Then starting
with the first chapter first read the bold headlines and then go through section
by section, taking notes as you read. After you have read each chapter return
to this guide and ensure that you are knowledgeable with each piece
contained here. If you are not, return to the book and study/re-write that
section until you understand it thoroughly.
This takes more work but it is 100% proven to make you pass the test. Any
passive study method will only lead you to feeling overwhelmed and not
actually knowing the material well enough to pass.
UPDATED information you need to know for
version 4 of the test:
CPT Study Guide, Version 4
On the actual exam, you will be tested in the following subject areas (exam breakdown):
Basic and Applied Sciences 15 Questions
Assessment 15 questions
Exercise Technique and Training Instruction 20 questions
Program Design 20 questions
Nutrition 12 questions
Client Relations Behavioral Coaching 10 questions
Professional Development, Practice and Responsibility 8 questions
,National Academy of Sports Medicine Code of Ethics (In the beginning of your book
pages V-Vi)
Be sure to read all the sections as there will be test questions on this. You
may see something like how long should a personal trainer keep client
records for? The correct answer would 4 years. (Page Vi located under
Business Practice)
Chapter 2 Basic Exercise Science
Know all definitions
Figure 2.34
Figure 2.38
Table 2.5 Muscle Fiber Types
Table 2.6 Muscle as Movers
Chapter 3 The Cardiorespiratory System:
Figure 3.3 Atria and Ventricles know the functions of the right and left atrium and the
right and left ventricles
Table 3.1 Support Mechanisms of Blood
Table 3.2 Structures of the respiratory pump.
Chapter 4 Exercise Metabolism and Bioenergetics:
Be Familiar with all definitions throughout the chapter
Chapter 5 Human Movement Science:
Know definitions throughout the chapter in detail.
Figure 5.3 Planes of Motion
Table 5.1 Examples of Planes, Motions, and Axes
The planes of motion can be a bit tricky, so here is a little bit of clarification:
Frontal Plane
NOT front to back movements
Side to side movements
Exercises involving abduction and/or adduction of the limbs
, Example: side lunge, lateral dumbbell raise, ice skater
Imagine a wall in front and in back of you. The ONLY movement this would
allow is along that plane-sideways movements.
Sagittal Plane
Forward and backwards movements
Movements involving pushing and/or pulling
Movements involving flexion and/or extension at joints
Example: bicep curl, front lunge, bench press, and rows
Imagine a wall on your right and left side. The ONLY movement this would
allow is along that plane-or front and back movements.
Transverse Plane
Rotational movements
Diagonal movements
Example: rotation, wood-chop throw, medicine ball rotation chest pass
Figure 5.4 Joint Motions
Figure 5.5 Joint Motions
Figure 5.6 Joint Motions
Figure 5.7 Joint Motions
Table 5.2 Muscle Action Spectrum
Isotonic
o Eccentric
o Concentric
Isometric
Isokinetic
Table 5.3 Common force couples
Figure 5.15 Levers
Chapter 6 Fitness Assessment:
This is going to be a very important chapter to know as a lot of test question
will be taken from this chapter.
Table 6.1 Guidelines for Health and Fitness Professionals
Figure 6.1 Subjective vs. Objective information
Figure 6.2 Sample Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire
, Figure 6.3 Sample questions: client occupation
Figure 6.4 Sample questions: client lifestyle
Figure 6.5 Sample questions: client medical history
Table 6.2 Common medications by classification
Table 6.3 Effects of medication on heart rate and blood pressure
Heart rate and blood pressure assessments
Table 6.4 Target heart rate training zones
Max Heart Rate formula (straight percentage method) for each zone
Body Composition Assessments
Circumference measurements
Body Mass Index
YMCA 3-minute step test
Rockport Walk Test
Table 6.9 Pronation Distortion Syndrome
Table 6.10Lower Crossed Syndrome
Table 6.11Upper Crossed Syndrome
Be familiar with all of the assessment protocols and for the posture assessments
all compensations
Chapter 7 Flexibility Training Concepts:
Know all definitions throughout the chapter
Figure 7.10 Integrated flexibility Continuum
Table 7.2 Examples of stretching within the Flexibility Continuum
Myofascial Release
Table 7.3 Static Stretching Summary
Table 7.4 Active-Isolated Stretching summary
Table 7.5 Dynamic Stretching summary
Mechanoreceptors = a Golgi tendon organ (GTO) and muscle spindle fibers
GTO Muscle Spindle Fibers
Senses muscle tension Senses muscle lengthening
Relaxes the muscle in response Contracts the muscle in response
Normal reaction to avoid injury Normal reaction to avoid injury
There is a lot of useful information page 183 of the NASM Essentials of
Personal Fitness Training and it will take some time to remember all of that
information. There are various strategies you can try as you attempt to retain
that information. One is to make your
How to use this guide:
The best way to use this guide is to first glance over pages 1-9 to familiarize
yourself with the overall scope of what you are trying to learn. Then starting
with the first chapter first read the bold headlines and then go through section
by section, taking notes as you read. After you have read each chapter return
to this guide and ensure that you are knowledgeable with each piece
contained here. If you are not, return to the book and study/re-write that
section until you understand it thoroughly.
This takes more work but it is 100% proven to make you pass the test. Any
passive study method will only lead you to feeling overwhelmed and not
actually knowing the material well enough to pass.
UPDATED information you need to know for
version 4 of the test:
CPT Study Guide, Version 4
On the actual exam, you will be tested in the following subject areas (exam breakdown):
Basic and Applied Sciences 15 Questions
Assessment 15 questions
Exercise Technique and Training Instruction 20 questions
Program Design 20 questions
Nutrition 12 questions
Client Relations Behavioral Coaching 10 questions
Professional Development, Practice and Responsibility 8 questions
,National Academy of Sports Medicine Code of Ethics (In the beginning of your book
pages V-Vi)
Be sure to read all the sections as there will be test questions on this. You
may see something like how long should a personal trainer keep client
records for? The correct answer would 4 years. (Page Vi located under
Business Practice)
Chapter 2 Basic Exercise Science
Know all definitions
Figure 2.34
Figure 2.38
Table 2.5 Muscle Fiber Types
Table 2.6 Muscle as Movers
Chapter 3 The Cardiorespiratory System:
Figure 3.3 Atria and Ventricles know the functions of the right and left atrium and the
right and left ventricles
Table 3.1 Support Mechanisms of Blood
Table 3.2 Structures of the respiratory pump.
Chapter 4 Exercise Metabolism and Bioenergetics:
Be Familiar with all definitions throughout the chapter
Chapter 5 Human Movement Science:
Know definitions throughout the chapter in detail.
Figure 5.3 Planes of Motion
Table 5.1 Examples of Planes, Motions, and Axes
The planes of motion can be a bit tricky, so here is a little bit of clarification:
Frontal Plane
NOT front to back movements
Side to side movements
Exercises involving abduction and/or adduction of the limbs
, Example: side lunge, lateral dumbbell raise, ice skater
Imagine a wall in front and in back of you. The ONLY movement this would
allow is along that plane-sideways movements.
Sagittal Plane
Forward and backwards movements
Movements involving pushing and/or pulling
Movements involving flexion and/or extension at joints
Example: bicep curl, front lunge, bench press, and rows
Imagine a wall on your right and left side. The ONLY movement this would
allow is along that plane-or front and back movements.
Transverse Plane
Rotational movements
Diagonal movements
Example: rotation, wood-chop throw, medicine ball rotation chest pass
Figure 5.4 Joint Motions
Figure 5.5 Joint Motions
Figure 5.6 Joint Motions
Figure 5.7 Joint Motions
Table 5.2 Muscle Action Spectrum
Isotonic
o Eccentric
o Concentric
Isometric
Isokinetic
Table 5.3 Common force couples
Figure 5.15 Levers
Chapter 6 Fitness Assessment:
This is going to be a very important chapter to know as a lot of test question
will be taken from this chapter.
Table 6.1 Guidelines for Health and Fitness Professionals
Figure 6.1 Subjective vs. Objective information
Figure 6.2 Sample Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire
, Figure 6.3 Sample questions: client occupation
Figure 6.4 Sample questions: client lifestyle
Figure 6.5 Sample questions: client medical history
Table 6.2 Common medications by classification
Table 6.3 Effects of medication on heart rate and blood pressure
Heart rate and blood pressure assessments
Table 6.4 Target heart rate training zones
Max Heart Rate formula (straight percentage method) for each zone
Body Composition Assessments
Circumference measurements
Body Mass Index
YMCA 3-minute step test
Rockport Walk Test
Table 6.9 Pronation Distortion Syndrome
Table 6.10Lower Crossed Syndrome
Table 6.11Upper Crossed Syndrome
Be familiar with all of the assessment protocols and for the posture assessments
all compensations
Chapter 7 Flexibility Training Concepts:
Know all definitions throughout the chapter
Figure 7.10 Integrated flexibility Continuum
Table 7.2 Examples of stretching within the Flexibility Continuum
Myofascial Release
Table 7.3 Static Stretching Summary
Table 7.4 Active-Isolated Stretching summary
Table 7.5 Dynamic Stretching summary
Mechanoreceptors = a Golgi tendon organ (GTO) and muscle spindle fibers
GTO Muscle Spindle Fibers
Senses muscle tension Senses muscle lengthening
Relaxes the muscle in response Contracts the muscle in response
Normal reaction to avoid injury Normal reaction to avoid injury
There is a lot of useful information page 183 of the NASM Essentials of
Personal Fitness Training and it will take some time to remember all of that
information. There are various strategies you can try as you attempt to retain
that information. One is to make your
